• Bring treats or food. Call your pet and then wait a while to see if he comes out of a hiding place. Knock on doors and talk to people out for a walk or walking their dog, and ask if anyone has seen your pet.

• Post and handout flyers in all directions of where your pet was last seen within a 2-5 mile radius. Include photos of your pet and your phone number that is hooked up to an answering machine.) Post a flyer at the police station, town hall, library, stores, animal shelters, restaurants, gas stations, pet stores, and the highway department.

• If your pet has been microchipped, go to the web page of the chip registry to update the microchip registry information — phone numbers, your veterinarian and your contact info. Have the registry ’flag’ the registration noting your pet is lost or stolen.

• Call and go to the local animal shelters yourself, within 20 miles of your search, to look at the pets that have been brought in — at least every other day if possible.

—The animal might be dirty or neglected looking so your description might not match what you tell them over the phone. Your pet might not be listed yet or may have lost their collar or tag.

—Some shelters do not keep pets for more than a few days, or they try to adopt them out quickly, so you must keep checking often. Call animal control and the local police department, and ask if any pet has been picked up.

• Post your missing pet info online on social media and Missing Pet sites, and in local and surrounding area newspapers.

• The last resort is to check highway departments or shelters for deceased animals.

• Of most importance is to never give up hope. Many people are happy to help you find your pet.